Rui Patrício this week called time on a brilliant 20-year career. The former Portugal goalkeeper announced his decision to retire earlier this week, and the Portuguese Football Federation was quick to organise a ceremony that took place today at their Cidade do Futebol headquarters in Oeiras on the outskirts of Lisbon.
Current Seleção manager Roberto Martínez and his predecessors Fernando Santos and Paulo Bento were among the audience as a long list of Patrício’s former teammates paid tribute to one of the heroes of Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph.
It was Paulo Bento who gave Patrício his big break as a teenager at Sporting, handing the then 18-year-old his debut away at Marítimo on 19 November 2006. Patrício saved a penalty as Sporting came away from Madeira with a 1-0 victory.
“At the time we knew we were in the presence of somebody with enormous qualities from the technical, tactical, physical, emotional and mental point of view, with a tremendous capacity for hard work and professionalism,” said Bento. “That explains how he built an extraordinary career.”
“Fundamental” in Euro 2016 win
As for Fernando Santos, the Euro 2016 winning coach was equally gushing in his praise for the Leiria native. “He had an amazing journey and he was fundamental in us winning the European Championship and the Nations League as our goalkeeper,” said Santos.
“But he was even more important as a man and what he represented in the squad with his humility, determination and spirit of sacrifice. He was one of the team’s leaders.”
As well as winning the European Championship in 2016 – Portugal’s first major trophy – and the Nations League in 2019, Patrício became the most capped goalkeeper ever for the Seleção, accumulating 108 games. He belongs to a restricted group of Portuguese players who have a century of national team appearances (eight in total).
Uma 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 ✨ das balizas portuguesas. pic.twitter.com/8rKMcL9taZ
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) December 10, 2025
“It’s a landmark day in my life,” said Patrício. “The time was right and I’m very happy. I could have continued, I had offers, but I wanted to finish now.
“I started out in elite football very young, at 18 years of age, and now I want to do other things. I’ve thought about it carefully.
“I’m going to continue working in football but now I want to take advantage of being able to do things I couldn’t do while I was playing, like spending more time with my family and children. After this [ceremony], for example, I’m going to my children’s Christmas party, which I couldn’t do before.”
Patrício played most of his career at Sporting CP, making 467 appearances. Only left-back Hilário played more matches for the Lisbon club.
In 2018 Patrício moved abroad where he represented Wolverhampton Wanderers (England), Roma and Atalanta (Italy) and Al Ain (UAE). At Sporting he won two Portuguese Cups, one League Cup and two Super Cups, and he lifted the UEFA Conference League at Roma.
Build him a statue! Done
But it was while wearing the Portugal shirt that Patrício enjoyed his finest hour, making outstanding contributions to the Seleção winning Euro 2016, notably by brilliantly saving a penalty against Poland in the quarter-final shootout (pictured above) and producing an exceptional performance in the final as Portugal caused an upset by beating hosts France with a largely backs-to-the-wall display.
His memorable save to tip Antoine Griezmann’s goal-bound header over the bar has been immortalised in a statue in his hometown of Leiria.
“That was the most important moment of my career. It was the save I made that had the most impact. I end my career with pride. I played where I had to play; I did what I had to do.”
